Systems and methods for monitoring the status of a shank attachment member of an agricultural implement

Abstract

A system for monitoring the installation status of shank attachment members of an agricultural implement includes a shank assembly having a shank extending between a proximal end and a distal end opposite the distal end, with the proximal end of the shank being configured to be coupled to a portion of the agricultural implement. The shank assembly also includes a shank attachment member configured to be coupled to the distal end of the shank. The system further includes a load sensor provided in operative association with the shank assembly and being configured to generate data indicative of a load transmitted through the shank assembly. In addition, the system includes a computing system communicatively coupled to the load sensor, with the computing system being configured to determine an installation status of the shank attachment member relative to the shank based on the data received from the load sensor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for monitoring the installation status of shank attachment members of an agricultural implement, the system comprising:
 a shank assembly including a shank extending between a proximal end and a distal end opposite the distal end, the proximal end of the shank being configured to be coupled to a portion of the agricultural implement, the shank assembly further comprises a shank attachment member configured to be coupled to the distal end of the shank;   a load sensor provided in operative association with the shank assembly and being configured to generate data indicative of a load transmitted through the shank assembly; and   a computing system communicatively coupled to the load sensor, the computing system configured to determine an installation status of the shank attachment member relative to the shank based on the data received from the load sensor.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the shank assembly further comprises attachment structure coupling the proximal end of the shank to the portion of the agricultural implement, the load sensor being provided at a connection point between the shank and the attachment structure. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the shank is coupled to the attachment structure at a pivot point, the load sensor being provided at the pivot point to generate data indicative of the load being transmitted through the shank assembly at the pivot point. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the load sensor comprises one of a load pin, a load cell, or a strain gauge installed at the pivot point. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computing system is configured to determine the installation status of the shank attachment member based on load variations in the load transmitted through the shank assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the load variations comprise variations in at least one of a magnitude or a direction of the load transmitted through the shank assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the shank assembly is movable between a raised position at which the attachment member is configured to be located above a surface of the ground and a lowered position at which the attachment member is configured to be located below the surface of the ground, the computing system being configured to determine the installation status of the shank attachment member when the shank assembly is at the raised position or the lowered position based on load variations in the load transmitted through the shank assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a user interface in communication with the computing system, the computing system being configured to indicate the installation status of the shank attachment member to an operator of the agricultural implement via the user interface. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computing system is configured to adjust an operation of the agricultural implement based at least in part on the installation status of the shank attachment member. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the shank attachment member comprises a shank point. 
     
     
         11 . An agricultural implement, comprising:
 a frame;   a plurality of shank assemblies supported relative to the frame, each of the plurality of shank assemblies comprising:
 a shank extending between a proximal end and a distal end opposite the distal end, the proximal end of the shank being configured to be coupled to the frame; and 
 a shank attachment member configured to be coupled to the distal end of the shank; 
   a load sensor provided in operative association with a respective shank assembly of the plurality of shank assemblies and being configured to generate data indicative of a load transmitted through the respective shank assembly; and   a computing system communicatively coupled to the load sensor, the computing system configured to determine an installation status of the shank attachment member of the respective shank assembly based on the data received from the load sensor.   
     
     
         12 . The agricultural implement of  claim 11 , wherein the respective shank assembly further comprises attachment structure coupling the proximal end of the shank to the frame the load sensor being provided at a connection point between the shank and the attachment structure. 
     
     
         13 . The agricultural implement of  claim 12 , wherein the shank is coupled to the attachment structure at a pivot point, the load sensor being provided at the pivot point to generate data indicative of the load being transmitted through the respective shank assembly at the pivot point. 
     
     
         14 . The agricultural implement of  claim 11 , wherein the computing system is configured to determine the installation status of the shank attachment member based on load variations in the load transmitted through the respective shank assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The agricultural implement of  claim 14 , wherein the load variations comprise variations in at least one of a magnitude or a direction of the load transmitted through the respective shank assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The agricultural implement of  claim 11 , further comprising a user interface in communication with the computing system, the computing system being configured to indicate the installation status of the shank attachment member to an operator of the agricultural implement via the user interface. 
     
     
         17 . The agricultural implement of  claim 11 , wherein the computing system is configured to adjust an operation of the agricultural implement based at least in part on the installation status of the shank attachment member. 
     
     
         18 . A method for monitoring the installation status of a shank attachment member of an agricultural implement, the agricultural implement comprising a shank assembly including a shank and a shank attachment member configured to be coupled to the shank, the method comprising:
 receiving, with a computing system, data indicative of a load being transmitted through the shank assembly;   determining, with the computing system, when a change in the installation status of the shank attachment member occurs based on the data; and   initiating, with the computing system, a control action when it is determined that a change in the installation status of the shank attachment member has occurred.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein initiating the control action comprises indicating the change in the installation status of the shank attachment member to an operator of the agricultural implement. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein initiating the control action comprises adjusting an operation of the agricultural implement when it is determined that a change in the installation status of the shank attachment member has occurred.